The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-06-16
BELFAST, MAINE, THURSDAY, JUNE l6, 1887.

is to say Na7a hdsta ,Saba1o ('snothing until
Saturday''), with which implied promise they
shuttle cOntentedly away. But though you
call upon the hills and mountains to cover
you, they seldom fail to ferret you out OH the
designated day, and present themselves with
the utmost confidence. expecting Il double
bonus. And Il failure on your part to '.come
down handsomely" after all their trust and
trouble, would be to shake their faith in hui
man nature and to call down upon your perjur-
ed head their devoutest prayers inverted.
Worst of all are
THE FEMALE ''FOI-GOD'S-SAKES,"
for, understanding by instinct the inherent
vanity of the sex, they will plant themselves
in your path. Gf you are Il woman), and roll
ing up their optics as If in an ecstasy of admra-
ton, will discourse upon your grace and beauty
in such exaggerated terms that you are glad to
escape ut any price.
AnybOdy's doorway or arcade may be utiliZ-
ed as Il lodgng-place by these gamin, whole
families of them calmly squatting upon your
premises for an indefinite period. without so
much as formal ''by your leave;" and to
drive off the intruders is about easy as to
rid yourself of y healthy but hungry tick
which has attached himself to your cuts.
Thousands of city vagabonds have no habita-
tions except of this description, their earthly
possessions consisting of one vermin-infcsted
blanket to each adult, which serves him beau
tifully as Il portable bed, and All earthern pot
or two to every family in which their scant
cooking is done (perhaps on your front door
step over a few dry twigs CIR Il handful of
stolen charcoal Indeed, the beggars are about
life to them is one long holday-a happy-go-
lucky existence. wholly relieved from work or
worry. No ''carkng cares disturb the seren-
ity of their souls, nor vauting ambitions, nor
thoughts of rainy days to come. Every enc of
them of adult age is married, and all are sur
Ssnl1 ,v<ssS
reckless Mexcans, like poor humans north of
the Rio Granle, rush into double-blcsScdncsS
quite regardless of the number of bcggars they
may inilict upon the world. Besides nmumer-
able children, each beggar possesses a dog or
two to share his misfortunes; and have fire.
that the deeper or more hopeless his apparent
Indulgence. the greater the number of his cam
ine 0ttdchcs. And thus these
SIDEWALK CITIZENS
spend their time in the intervals of begging,
lounginy in the sunshine and gossiping with
the ncighbors, as conteMte,liy Us the hau"hticst
Iiidalgo whose prodigal coins support him.
Poraaseras. male and female, address all
ladies of whatever age or station who come
ing and familiar words as 'Nina.' Ninata !.
Ninacita :" Girl! Little Girl! Deor Little
Girl.' In church they are particularly an
noying, buzziny about the doors like Il swarm
or bees, lmportuHlng all pasSerS and Fostering
worshpperS in the midst of their prayers.
The impudence of their per>istcncy is only
cpuallcd by the ingenuity displayed in the in
vocations by which, under the guisc of rcIig-
ious feeling, they whcedc the last penny out
of your pocket. Upon your knees in crowd
ell sanctuary, in the midst of the most solemn
mass or an Ave Maria Pari>>ima, they fling
themselves and their filthy rags before you.
and "rovelling upon the ground. pour forth
their petitions 10 your purse in this wise :
'.Nnacita! Por el amor de la SantiSSima Nir-
Sin!'-By the Blood of Christ! For sake of
the Most Holy Trinity! For the love of God
and his angels! BY the bones of the blessed
Martyrs! ETC., etc, through all the saints in
the calendar. Ii you are obdurate as to go
Oh with your devoton regardless of his pray
erS. he tries another tack and appeals to your
domestic Sympathics. 70 men he will say
''By the soul of your wife! BY the life of
your sweetheart. TO women: ''By the
heart of your lover! BY the life of Your little
child''--and to children: "By the life of your
mother! by the honor of your father" A
mixture of picty and superstition makes most
people draw forth their purse>--cSperaly
women and children who are too tendcrheart-
ell to resist such appeals.
The plea that You have no small coin about
you is not a valid excuse with Mexican beg
garS. for upon such a hint any one Of the half
naked rascals will dive under his dirty blanket
and, producing Il wcll-iilied bag of silver, cour-
teou>ly offers to make change for you
FANNIE H. WARD.